Standing in Solidarity

April 1, 2018

The Sisters of Saint Joseph were among thousands to take part in the March for Our Lives rally in downtown Rochester on Saturday, March 24. The march was part of a nationwide call for stricter gun laws in the wake of February’s mass school shooting in Parkland, Florida where 17 people were killed. Organized by high school students across the country, the marches were among several gun violence awareness campaigns including National School Walkout Day on Wednesday, March 14.

Hope Hall School joined the effort. Instead of walking out, they chose to gather with staff in the gymnasium for a Remembrance Ceremony honoring the 17 victims from Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School. Forming a large circle around a candle, the names of the victims were read aloud one at a time. Sister Diana Dolce, Hope Hall Executive Director, then said a prayer for each victim’s family, asking God for wisdom for our nation’s leaders in passing laws to support gun safety and mental health support. Students were also asked to perform 17 acts of kindness that day, which were then added to a large mural.

A similar demonstration took place at The Aquinas Institute. Wearing Marjorie Stoneman Douglas school colors, students gathered in the field house to pray and read aloud the names of the 17 killed. Sister Elaine Englert, through Aquinas’ SSJ Women’s Leadership Program, also organized a letter writing campaign to comfort the students at the Florida school. The letters were accompanied by 1,000 peace cranes that were handmade by the AQ students.